Destructible article for reserving a recess in concrete



Jan. 14, 1969 cs. F. CURRIER DESTRUCTIBLE ARTICLE FOR RESERVING A RECESS IN CONCRETE Filed May 21, 1965 I rnuwtr:

United States Patent 3,421,551 DESTRUCTIBLE ARTICLE FOR RESERVING A RECESS IN CONCRETE Gerald F. Currier, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor of fifty percent to Richard H. Lindqnist, Minneapolis, Minn.

Filed May 21, 1965, Ser. No. 457,769

US. Cl. 138178 11 Claims Int. Cl. F161 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A destructible non-water absorbing spacing sleeve positioned with a close fit about the upper end of an upright water closet drain pipe to provide an annular recess about the pipe in a concrete floor to allow subsequent installation of a water closet ring without the necessity of cutting away of concrete. The sleeve is a one piece right cylindrical member formed from a polystyrene expanded plastic foam having the characteristics of light weight, high compressive strength, and non-water absorbency as well as being readily frangible or breakable. The sleeve may be provided with a diagonal slit to permit limited circumferential expansion of the sleeve to accommodate pipes which are irregularly shaped or over-sized.

Summary of invention This invention relates to a destructible article adapted to fit over a pipe which is to be embedded in concrete, terrazzo, stone or similar construction material to reserve an annular space in the embedding material surrounding the pipe. The invention includes an improved method for reserving annular space about a pipe in the embedding material surrounding the pipe. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved destructible foamed plastic sleeve adapted to fit with a friction fit about an upright end of a closet bend for insuring an annular recess in the fioor about the end of the pipe. This recess permits emplacement of plumbing or other fixtures Without requiring parts of the completed walls, floors or other parts to be cut away in order to make the necessary space to receive the connecting parts of the fixtures.

In the construction of buildings plumbing pipe is normally roughed-in prior to the completion of the floors and walls. Concrete, tile and the like floors are then laid about the roughed-in pipes. Numerous devices have been developed to reserve an annular recess in the floor about each pipe to provide space for a water closet connecting collar to be secured to the upper end of the closet bend. These devices are relatively expensive and are constructed to be removed from the floors for subsequent reuse. The present invention obviates these disadvantages of the prior recess forming devices.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved, low-cost and destructible spacing core or sleeve for application over the end of a drain pipe to provide sufficient space about the pipe during the pouring of a concrete floor thereabout to allow subsequent installation of a water closet ring without the necessity of cutting away of concrete or other fioor material adjacent the pipe.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sleeve member which can with a minimum of time and labor be placed over the end of a pipe to be embedded in concrete or similar construction material for reserving an annular recess in the embedding material around the end of the pipe.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an annular sleeve member for reserving a recess about a pipe which does not absorb water and prevents accumulation of water in the recess about the pipe.

3,421,551 Patented Jan. 14, 1969 roughing-in of the plumbing pipe and the final emplacev ment of the closet fixtures.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an expendable and low cost sleeve member usable by a plumber for reserving an annular recess about a pipe to be embedded in construction material, the sleeve member being a plastic cellular material having the characteristics of being light in weight, breakable with a small hand tool, excellent energy absorbing properties and a low water absorbency.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a frangible foamed plastic sleeve for reserving a recess about a pipe to be embedded in construction material used to accommodate water closet plumbing connections and to support the fastening members of these connections.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple and low-cost article usable in a reliable and effective manner with a minimum of time and effort to reserve a recess about a pipe in material surrounding the pipe.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of the annular sleeve of this invention in assembled relation about the end of an upright pipe to reserve an annular recess in the floor around the pipe;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the annular sleeve of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the frangible foamed plastic sleeve of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of a modified frangible foamed plastic sleeve constructed according to the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the sleeve of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the frangible annular sleeve partially broken away to provide a recess about the pipe; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view showing a typical water closet installation utilizing the annular space around the upright pipe reserved by the frangible foamed plastic sleeve of this invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a typical roughed-in water closet plumbing installation in a building structure. The roughed-in plumbing pipe is a waste stack having a T-pipe 10 coupled to a closet bend 11 installed with the frame structure of the building prior to the pouring of the concrete floor 12. The closet bend 11 has a conventional upright end portion 13 terminating in a top inlet opening 14.

The annular core or sleeve of this invention, indicated generally at 16, is positioned about the end portion 13 prior to the pouring of the concrete floor 12 to reserve an annular recess 17 in the concrete floor 12 around the top of the end portion 13 of the closet bend. The annular recess 17 is used-to accommodate the collar and seal used to connect a water closet to the closet bend 11. This structural relationship is described hereinafter.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the sleeve 16 is a right cylindrical annular member having a continuous outer surface 18 and a continuous inner surface 19 concentrically positioned relative to the outer surface so that the sleeve 16 has uniform wall thickness. Top and bottom end faces 21 and 22 of the sleeve 16 are fiat and are positioned in substantially parallel planes extended normal to the axis of the sleeve.

The sleeve 16 is a low-cost foamed plastic identified as a plastic cellular material having the characteristics of low-cost, being frangible or breakable, low water absorbency, a high strength to weight ratio, and high energy absorbing properties. The material comprising the ring 16 may be selected from the following families of foamed plastics: polystyrene, polyurethane, polyethylene, urethane, epoxy, phenolic, and cellulose acetate. In addition, it is desirable that the foamed plastic be a non-inflammable or self-extinguishing material.

The following example is given as an illustration of a specific sleeve of this invention usable with a 4 inch cast iron closet bend to provide an annular recess about the upright end portion 13 of the closet bend. The sleeve 16 is formed from an expanded plastic material, such as polystyrene expanded plastic foam known as Styrofoam. In shape the sleeve 16 is a one-piece right cylindrical member having an axial hole. The diameter of the hole is 4% inches. The sleeve has a height of 3 inches and a uniform wall thickness of inch. In use, a sleeve with these dimensions has a friction fit over the end of a conventional 4 inch cast iron pipe.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, there is shown a modified sleeve 23 which is substantially identical in shape and construction as the sleeve 16. The sleeve 23 has a diagonal slit 24 which permits limited circumferential expansion of the cylinder, shown by arrows 26, to accommodate closet bends which are irregularly shaped or oversized. In this manner the sleeve 23 will fit with a friction fit over the irregular shaped pipe without splitting or breaking the foamed plastic material.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the sleeve 16 is initially positioned about the upper end portion 13 of the closet bend 11. The top face 21 of the sleeve 16 is in substantial alignment or flush with the end of the upright pipe portion 13. As shown in FIGURE 2, the diameter of the sleeve 16 is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the pipe 13 so that the sleeve 16 fits about the pipe with a friction fit. A concrete floor 12 is now poured about the pipe with the top surface thereof worked and leveled adjacent the sleeve 16. In the event that the sleeve 16 projects above the top surface of the floor the movable concrete leveling member will saw or cut a portion of the top of the sleeve 16 with the result that the sleeve does not interfere with the leveling of the top surface of the concrete. Since the foamed plastic material forming the sleeve 16 does not absorb water and the sleeve 16 fills the entire recess 17 the possibility of accumulating and removing water from the uncured concrete is eliminated. In addition, since the sleeve 16 has a continuous and solid wall the pressure of the concrete is uniformly distributed around the cylindrical sleeve thus the sleeve maintains its right cylindrical shape under relatively high compressive loads.

As shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the inner surface 19 of the sleeve 16 is broken away by the use of a small hand tool, such as a screw driver, to provide an annular space to accommodate a closet collar 27 having a.- radially outwardly projected flange 28. The collar 27 has an interior diameter which is sufficiently greater than the exterior diameter of the pipe portion 13 to provide space for oakum and lead caulking 29. As best seen in FIGURE 7, a portion of the top face 21 of the sleeve is left in the recess 17. This portion functions as a support for upright bolts 31 projected through the flange 28 and the base of a water closet 32. Bolts 31 secure the water closet 32 to the collar 27. The space between the bottom of the water closet 32 and the flooring 33, such as tile, is closed in an airtight manner by an annular seal 34 having radially inner spaced portions positioned about the annular flange 28 of the closet collar 27.

In terms of a method for reserving an annular recess in a floor about an upright pipe of roughed-in plumbing which is to be partially embedded in the floor the invention comprises the steps of placing the annular sleeve 16 of frangible foamed plastic material about the upper end portion 13 of the pipe 11 with the top face 21 of the sleeve located in substantially the plane of the end of the pipe. Since the sleeve 16 has an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the pipe so that the end portion 13, friction holds the sleeve 16 in assembled relation with the pipe end portion 13.

The floor 12 is then fabricated about the upper end portion 13 of the pipe 11 and the sleeve 16 whereby the sleeve 16 reserves an annular recess about the top end portion 13 of the pipe 11. In the installation of the water closet or similar unit on the closet bend or pipe 11 the inner portion of the frangible sleeve is compressed and broken away with a small simple hand tool, such as a screwdriver, to establish an annular cavity about the upper end of the pipe 11 to provide space for the closet collar 27 and the oakum and lead caulking 29. The portion of the sleeve 16 which has not been removed from the recess 17 may be used as a support for the bolts 31 used to secure the water closet 32 to the closet collar 27. If necessary the entire sleeve 16 may be removed from the concrete floor 12 to provide space for the closet collar 27.

It is apparent that many modifications, substitutions, changes in form, shape and details of the disclosed article and method for reserving a recess about an upright end of a pipe illustrated and described may be made Without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. The specific example described is given by way of illustration only and the invention is intended to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A destructible article for reserving an annular recess in a concrete floor about an upright pipe positioned in the floor during the pouring of the concrete floor comprising: a cylindrical sleeve of non-water absorbing frangible foamed plastic material, said sleeve having only a cylindrical wall forming an opening extended axially of the sleeve, said wall having a diagonal slit to allow limited expansion of said sleeve and a uniform thickness substantially equal to the width of the recess, said opening being of a shape and size that substantially corresponds to the outside shape and size of said pipe whereby said sleeve is adapted to closely fit over said pipe to form a core which is at least partially destroyed after the concrete has hardened for reserving an annular recess in the concrete floor about said pipe.

2. The article defined in claim 1 wherein said frangible foamed plastic material is a polystyrene expanded plastic foam.

3. A destructible article for reserving a recess in a concrete floor about an upright pipe positioned in the floor during the pouring of the concrete floor comprising: a sleeve of non-water absorbing frangible foamed plastic material, said sleeve having a circuitous wall forming an opening extended axially of the sleeve, said wall having a thickness conforming to the shape of the recess, said opening 'being of a shape and size that substantially corresponds to the outside shape and size of said pipe whereby said sleeve is adapted to closely fit over said pipe to form a core which is at least partially destroyed after the concrete has hardened for reserving an annular recess in the concrete floor about said pipe.

4. A destructible article for reserving an opening in a concrete body having a surface about an object projected through said surface comprising: a member of nonwater absorbing frangible foamed plastic material, said member having a wall forming an opening extended into the member, said wall having a thickness and shape that conforms to the opening in the concrete body, said opening into the member being of a shape and size that substantially corresponds to the outside shape and size of said object whereby said wall of the member is adapted to closely fit over said object to form a core which is at least partially destroyed after the concrete has hardened 5 for reserving an opening in the concrete body about said object during the construction of the concrete body.

5. The article defined in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical sleeve is a one piece right cylindrical member.

6. The article defined in claim 3 wherein said sleeve is a one piece right cylindrical member.

7. The article defined in claim 3 wherein said frangible foam plastic material is a polystyrene expanded plastic foam.

8. The article of claim 4 wherein said wall has a slit to separate portions of the wall.

9. The article of claim 4 wherein said member is a one piece polystyrene expanded plastic foam.

10. A destructible article for reserving an annular recess in the concrete floor about an upright pipe positioned in the floor during the pouring of the concrete floor comprising: a cylindrical sleeve means of non-water absorbing frangible foamed plastic material, said sleeve means having a continuous cylindrical wall forming an opening extended axially of the sleeve means, said wall having a thickness conforming to the width of the recess, said opening being of a shape and size that substantially corresponds to the outside shape and size of said pipe whereby said sleeve means is adapted to closely fit over said pipe to form a core which is at least partially destroyed after the concrete has hardened for reserving an annular recess in the concrete floor about said pipe.

11. The article defined in claim 10 wherein said cylindrical sleeve is a one piece right cylindrical member made from a polystyrene expanded plastic foam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 566,470 8/ 1896 Ricketts.

1,878,195 9/1932 Sisk 285-58 1,938,286 12/1933 Elliott et al.

1,941,841 1/1934 Kispert 285-56 X 2,202,147 5/ 1940 Gerriets 52-99 2,234,784 3/1941 Stolz 249-183 X 2,241,125 5/1941 Girard 249-183 2,657,447 11/ 1953 Pellanda 249-183 2,659,124 11/1953 Henry 249-183 2,270,286 1/ 1942 Gerriets 52-220 2,488,816 11/1949 Heaton 285-56 X 2,508,044 5/1950 Seddon 249-177 2,623,261 12/1952 Semeraro 249-183 2,679,155 5/1954 Zinn 52-220 2,707,387 5/1955 Zinn 52-220 2,837,750 6/1958 Robinson 4-252 2,894,538 7/1959 Wilson 138-109 X 2,914,832 12/1959 Lee 249-183 2,968,855 1/1961 Stolz 249-183 X 2,994,327 8/1961 Otto et al. 132-139 3,048,911 8/1962 Alman 25-118 3,101,960 8/1963 Danescu 285-58 3,307,590 3/1967 Carlson 138-149 3,311,391 3/1967 Harrell 285-58 3,319,268 5/1967 Blumen Kranz 285-58 X HOUSTON S. BELL, 111., Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

